An Australian company has won FDA approval to begin human trials for its
microbicide gel. In macaque monkey trials, a single application of VivaGel was 100
percent effective against the monkey version of HIV and the animal versions
of genital herpes and chlamydia. Melbourne-
based Starpharma will begin phase one human trials of VivaGel by the end of
this year. If human trials are successful, the gel will be targeted to women in
poorer nations, giving them cheaper, easier control over HIV prevention. A
prescription-only gel could be available in three years' time. It would take
another two years to produce an over-the-counter version. Countries such as
Myanmar and Papua New Guinea face looming AIDS crises similar to the epidemic in
Africa due
to a lack of preventive measures. At the end of 2002, 42 million people
worldwide were HIV-infected; estimates say by 2010, 45 million more people will
have HIV.